Politicians from all levels of government touched down in Calgary to convince oil and gas producers to ship their black gold to the Port City.

Mayor Mel Norton was joined by Energy Minister Craig Leonard, MP Rodney Weston and more, and Norton tells CHSJ News that it's rare that you see municipal, provincial and federal politicians working together towards the same goal.

He tells us they pitched Saint John to the producers, saying that we have Canada's largest oil refinery, a deep water port and we are the closest of any Canadian port to markets in the U.S., Europe and India. And while producers can't come out and say what their decision will be, he says reception has be 'wonderful'.

Norton tells us they didn't shy away from telling oil and gas producers why they want this; he says that it's no secret that many workers in the province leave for Alberta and never return, and they want to retain a workforce

A man charged with aggravated assault for a March 16th beating in an uptown rooming house has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

Judge Henrik Tonning told the couty he's looked over the psychiatric report prepared on 35-year-old Nicholas Logan at Restigouche, and he may not have been criminally responsible for the death of 66 year old Duncan MacDonald.

A hearing to decide Logan's level of responsibility will be held on June 18th.

There may be no city money available for the City Market Seniors to pursue their project of an age friendly Saint John but provincial money may be a different story.

Councillor at Large Shirley McAlary says that's the indication given to the Cities of New Brunswick by Dorothy Sheppard, the M-L-A for Saint John Lancaster, who's also in charge of healthy and inclusive communities for the provincial government.Some type of public engagement is supposed to happen on June 4th according to the city which is being organised by the province. The City's Recreation Manager Kevin Watson says there will be more public engagement to follow.

The city budget is no longer just about how much money is being spent.......It's more about whether the money is being spent to actually get things done with targets being met. That's the focus of the service based budget City Manager Pat Woods is talking about.

He says this new budget approach will give members of Common Council a better idea about whether taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely because they'll be able to tell Saint Johnners exactly what their dollars were spent on.

Woods says every organisation needs a strategic plan because if you don't know your destination, how do you know when you gewt there.

Bayside Drive between Mount Pleasant and Courtney Avenue will be down to one lane north bound as you make your way towards Thorne Avenue for sewer repairs. Work is expected to begin at 7:30 this morning and continue until 5 this afternoon.

The Department of Transportation telling us the Evandale ferry will be off its run at 10 this morning for engine maintenance.

152 thousand dollars in neighbourhood grants have been approved by Common Council for community groups including One Change in the Old North End, the Teen Resource Centre and the Around the Block newspaper.

West Side Councillor Greg Norton makes note the report states, at times, it's difficult to measure the return on investment of tax dollars.

North end Councillor John MacKenzie says he has no doubt how valuable these organisations are in the priority neighbourhoods.Norton, who's a principal in the north end at Lorne School, adds he has no doubt about the social return on investment in these neighbourhoods.The City Market Seniors who requested 25 thousand dollars for a project called "Toward an age friendly Saint John" were turned down and told to approach the province.

Flooding, noise and tree cutting were the main concerns raised by a handful of people who spoke up at a public hearing against rezoning an area in Rothesay so that duplexes and a road can be built on Gibbon Road. One resident in favour of the project saying it's a classic case of 'not in my backyard' syndrome.

The proposal passed after a council vote, six to one, with councillor Pat Gallagher Jette opposed. Mayor Bill Bishop tells CHSJ News that their decision to rezone the area isn't an indication that the municipal plan is breaking down; he says they look at these projects on their own merit so precendents won't have much sway in the town of Rothesay.

Jeff Harriman, who is the director of Cachal Property investments and lives in Rothesay, tells us whether they build single or double family dwellings, they'll be contending with the same issues and working with the town to address them.

He says this will be the first new construction in the area in a long time and that it's important for the town to develop.

Business decisions should be made by business owners, not by the government.

That's according to Jim Cormier of the Retail Council of Canada in reaction to the Board of Trade's rejection of their recommendation to change Sunday shopping hours.

He tells CHSJ News that what his organization is asking for governments to stop dictating to retailers the hours they choose for opening on a Sunday. Cormier says, they're saying that you cannot open during hours that may be best for your business.

The Board of Trade's argument is that that possible consumer demand for more business hours would put pressure on small retailers to stay open beyond what they can afford.